Special Train Organised For BJP Lawmaker Poonam Mahajan: Reports

Reports suggested that Poonam Mahajan was given VIP treatment as there is no provision of running special train for lawmakers.

Bhopal: BJP lawmaker from Maharashtra Poonam Mahajan reportedly travelled by a special train to Bhopal from Bina district to ensure that she does not miss her flight to Mumbai, two days ago.

Media reports suggested that the leader was given VIP treatment as there is no provision of running special train for lawmakers as per rules of the railways.

General Manager of Western-Central Railway (WCR), which covers Bina under its Bhopal division, however, refuted the charge, saying no such treatment was meted out to Ms Mahajan, daughter of former union minister Pramod Mahajan.

"No VIP treatment against the (rule) book was meted out to Poonam Mahajan," WCR General Manager Ramesh Chandra told news agency PTI over the phone today.

According to media reports, Mumbai North Central constituency MP came in a special train to Sukhi Sewania station on the outskirt of Bhopal from Bina on Tuesday in just 90 minutes for which many trains were made to halt to give way to it. She had left Bina around 7 pm.

However, according to railway rules no special train can be run for lawmakers, the reports said.

"In fact the special train from Bhopal was sent for Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha to Sagar district as per the protocol day before yesterday (May 31)," Mr Chandra alleged.

Mr Sinha had gone to Sagar to attend a function where Ms Mahajan was also present.

"From there, Mr Sinha and Ms Mahajan came to nearby Bina by a special train where the minister inaugurated a Railway Over Bridge (ROB)," he alleged.

"After the function, Mr Sinha, according to his scheduled plan was to return to Bhopal by the special train from where he had to catch a flight to Delhi. But as the function got delayed, Mr Sinha changed his plan at the last moment and boarded a train from Bina for Delhi," the GM said.

"As the special train was to return to Bhopal, Poonam boarded it. Nothing should be read into it. It was a coincidence," he said.

Along with Ms Mahajan, Chief Security Commissioner of WCR too boarded the special train to Bhopal, Chandra said. Sources told news agency PTI that Mr Mahajan was to catch a flight from Bhopal airport around 9 pm on May 31 night.